my adventures in malawi, africa
TRANSCRIPT
I survived Africa, & Africa survived me
Intercultural Communication in Malawi, Africa
By: Jennifer Kalchik
Expected poverty to be obvious◦ Some parts very
urbanized Don’t judge or
assume I was going to
Africa, specifically Malawi
Culture is Learned
Located in Sub-Saharan Africa
Formerly known as Nyasaland Classified as a developing
country Warm heart of Africa
◦ Greet all visitors with a beaming smile, & with a genuine, disarming warmth.
Languages:◦ English◦ Chichewa
The Warm Heart of Africa
Borders:◦ Mozambique◦ Zambia◦ Tanzania
Major cities:◦ Lilongwe◦ Blantyre
Lake Nyasa (Malawi) is 1/3 of Malawi
About the size of Pennsylvania
Geography
Hot, but not humid Dry season
◦ No rain◦ Very sunny
South of equator◦ Start of winter◦ Sunset around
5:30 pm◦ 7 hours ahead of
United States
Climate
Christianity◦ Mostly Protestant◦ Catholicism◦ Most of our projects through
the Diocese of Mangochi and Presbyterian Church Alleluya Orphan Care Centre Saint Monica’s Center for Disabled and
Handicapped
Christianity
Radio◦ Most popular form of
communication◦ Wide geographic reach
Television◦ Only one channel, owned
by the government Internet/Cell Phone use
◦ Very limited access Daily Newspaper
Mass Media
How are you?
I am fine (good) and how are you?
Thank you See you later
Muli bwanji?
Ndili bwino, kaya inu
Zikomo Tionana
Common Phrases
Objective rather than requirement
Patience was a virtue
Expect to wait Made a joke of
it, eventually
Time
Kwacha Dense population Agriculture Exchange rate Trading partners:
◦ South Africa◦ UK◦ United States◦ Japan◦ Netherlands◦ Zimbabwe
Making bricks
Economics
8-4-4 education system Grade years are called
Forms Public school
◦ 75:1 student/teacher ratio◦ Lack of supplies or room
Private school◦ 20:1 student/teacher ratio
Brain drain
Education
Class outside Goat and Hyena What I want to be when I grow up
Education
Clement Chiwaya First Aquinas
College graduate of the Community Leadership program
Graduated in 2002 Native to Malawi Currently serves on
Parliament as Head Whip of Mangochi District
Agriculture, human rights, development, democracy
28 districts of Malawi Mixed legal system of
English common law and customary law
18 years to vote President Joyce Banda
Goverment
The rising sun represents the dawn of hope and freedom for Africa
Black represents the people of the continent Red symbolizes the martyrs of African
freedom Green represents the nature of Malawi
Malawi Flag
Basic staples:◦ Nsima (cornmeal)◦ Chambo (fish)◦ Chips (french fries)
Bottled drinks Expect to wait a
long time Be careful how you
order!
Food
Those who are different are not as well received by society
Religious diversity Numerous tribes Hard to unite Lack of racial
diversity
Diversity
Many unwanted children
Dependencia A life of poverty There are a LOT of
them◦ Average age: 17 years◦ Nearly ½ of the
population 14 years The more children
the better
Children
Malawi is represented at the Olympics◦ Never won an Olympic medal◦ Never compete in Winter Olympics◦ Sometimes co-op with Nigeria
Sports ◦ Girls: netball◦ Boys: football◦ Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis Squash
Leisure activities◦ Hiking◦ Safaris◦ Mountain Climbing◦ Sight-seeing
Leisure and Sports
Illegal businesses◦ No regulation
Very pushy salesmen◦ “Sister sister, buy my products”
Wide variety of products Haggling common
Market Place
Be grateful for what you have
Learn about the culture of a country before you visit
Travel Form your own opinion,
don’t let others decide for yourself
Not everything goes according to plan
What I’ve learned
Tubbs, Stewart L. Human Communication Principles and Contexts. 12th ed. New York: McGrawHill, 2010. N. pag. Print.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html
http://www.malawitourism.com/pages/blog_01/blog_item.asp?Blog_01ID=182
http://www.aquinas.edu/marketing/display.html?id=654 http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/malawi.htm http://www.africaguide.com/country/malawi/culture.htm http://www.xe.com/currency/mwk-malawian-kwacha?r=1
Works Cited